Today is IPA Day!

Today is a damn good holiday.

It’s IPA Day. Or, in the world of Twitterati and Instagrammers, #IPADay.

IPA Day started last year as a grassroots social media movement meant to rally beer nerds worldwide in a grand, joyful and bottle-filled celebration of a craft beer rich with history, hops and happiness.

According to the event’s website, “IPA Day is not the brainchild of a corporate marketing machine, nor is it meant to serve any particular beer brand. IPA Day is opportunity for all breweries, bloggers, businesses and consumers to connect and share their love of craft beer.”

Last year, enough drinkers got excited about the concept to get the hashtag trending on Twitter with around 10,000 tweets, and now some bars and restaurants are even holding events to celebrate. If you can't find an official event around you, you can at least be a good Samaritan by visiting your favorite watering hole and convincing someone to swap out their normal watered-down brew for something far more satisfying.

The origin of the traditional India Pale Ale is a contentious subject: Popular legend has it that the brew gained popularity in the late 1700s and early 1800s when some genius British guy decided that extra hops needed to be added to the beer Brit soldiers and sailors took on their long voyages to India.

Other beer nerds say the idea of adding hops to beer dates back as far as the 1760s, when there was a general consensus that it was “absolutely necessary” to add hops to beer intended to be consumed in hot climates.

And while Americans may have totally fucked up the taco and every Asian chicken dish (I swear General Tso's chicken is just a bunch of McNuggets doused in bastardized barbeque sauce), we kind of hit it head (pun) on with our Americanization of the IPA, which has enveloped into a beautiful beer subculture rich with variations like double and triple IPAs and crazy flavor profiles, adding fruit and herb undertones and dark, smoky accents.

While some certain brands and styles of beer like mainstream pilsners and lagers might be more ubiquitous in the American drinking landscape, the IPA represents, truly, a craft beer art form that continues to be innovated and explored.

If you're not sure where to start, check out alehead.com's list of some of the best IPAs available today before you head to the store. Bell's Two Hearted Ale will forever have my heart, but I think we might have to see other people today.

GOOD Ideas for Cities is an opportunity
for problem-solvers to tackle some of their cities’ greatest urban challenges.
GOOD has an excellent magazine, but the company is
also a collective of innovative individuals, nonprofits and other
organizations united to push the world in a positive direction. The GOOD Ideas
for Cities program will be presented in six cities this year, including Cincinnati. Local urban leaders met with GOOD to determine some of the city’s
urban issues and, last month, GOOD put out a call for creative Cincinnatians
with bright ideas. Six teams of problem-solvers were selected and each given an
urban challenge Cincinnati currently faces. Tonight at the Contemporary Arts
Center, these teams will present their solutions and join the urban leaders for
a Q&A. After the 7 p.m. presentation, enjoy drinks and conversation and
learn how to help make the ideas a reality. Admission is free, but you must
RSVP here. Doors open at 6 p.m., so come early as reservations do not guarantee entrance
after 6:45 p.m. It’s a pretty big deal that Cincinnati was selected to
participate in the program, and tonight is sure to be an engaging,
inspirational evening.

An after-work summer destination for many yuppies Tri-Staters, Party in
the Park returns tonight for its 32nd year tonight. Every Wednesday through
July, Party in the Park brings booze and popular area cover bands to Yeatman’s
Cove from 5-10 p.m. Happy hour runs 5-6:30 p.m. and for the first time, wine
and cocktails are available in addition to beer. Tonight’s music comes from
Naked Karate Girls. Check out the full lineup here.

Perhaps contemporary Classical is more your style? World-renown composer
Yanni performs at the Aronoff Center tonight. Known for being the sound of New
Wave and providing the music for the Olympics (since 1988) and countless other
televised sporting events, Yanni presents a new touring show featuring new
music from Truth of Touch, his first
album of original studio music in almost a decade. Tonight’s performance begins
at 8 p.m. Go here to find tickets.

Interior decorator and HGTV host/designer
Monica Pedersen will stop by Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Pavilion
to discuss and sign her new book. Monica
Pedersen Make It Beautiful: Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home combines the author’s DIY nature and design/décor
expertise to turn readers into party-throwing pros. The event begins at 7 p.m.
tonight.

Check out our To Do page for more art exhibits, theater shows and other events happening tonight and follow our music blog for a daily live show lineup.

Ricky, Julian and Bubbles, better known as the Trailer Park Boys, come to Madison Theater tonight. The Canadian
mockumentary-style comedy series makes a fun transition to stage with the “Community Service Variety
Show.”
If last year’s live show was any indication, expect more skits, audience
participation and white trash goodness than you can throw a rum and
Coke at (and you know Julian will have plenty of those). The show is
sold out, so try your luck with the fine scalpers of Covington!

This American Life went live last
Thursday, broadcasting the show in theaters across the U.S. and Australia. The show featured its standard true storytelling format, but with ample
visual components. In addition to anecdotes from David Sedaris, Tig Notaro and
others, there were also dance performances, an NPR-inspired short film from Mike
Birbiglia and an interactive performance by OK GO. If this sounds amazing (which it was) and you missed out, you're in luck! The broadcast will screen again tonight in several area theaters.

Pro Tip: Download this free app
before you go — the TAL crew pulled some strings to allow audiences to use
their phones at one point in the performance. Go here to find nearby theaters. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 (more than a 3D movie, but way less crappy).

Northside Tavern hosts a fundraiser for End
Slavery Cincinnati tonight from 5-10 p.m. Learn
about human trafficking in the country and right here in Cincinnati, and what you can do to help raise awareness and bring it to an end. from 5-10 p.m. Enjoy live music from The Flavor Junkies and Wild Mountain Berries, door
prizes and treats, for a great cause. Admission is $5 at the door.

Know Theater welcomes two local comedy groups onstage tonight. Underbelly Comedy and Off the Rocks Improv team up for a "Little Big Night" of laughs. There will be stand-up, improv, sketch comedy and more from some of the city's truly talented performers. Five bucks gets you a seat and a beer! What more could you possibly want? Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.

Check our our To Do page for more productions, exhibits and events every day and follow our music blog for nightly live shows.

On this first day of Bike to Work Week, Park + Vine and
Queen City Bike want to reward all those who swapped their cars for two wheels
with a kombucha keg party
tonight. Fab Ferments’ brew will be tapped at 4:30 and the fermented goodness
will be served 'til 6 p.m. alongside tasty vegan snacks. P+V continues to
celebrate bike month with lots of other events and promotions this month (find
more here).
Go here
for our full Bike Month calendar.

Today is also the kick-off of American Craft Beer Week.
That’s a thing! Cincinnati has a rich brewing history, so it’s no surprise that
local watering holes are celebrating the creation and consumption of delicious
craft beer. Tonight, Arnold’s taps Bell’s Third Coast Ale — one of two
fifth-barrels in the entire city. Find Arnold’s full ACBW schedule here.

The Crazy Fox in Newport
hosts open mic and all-night happy hour every Monday. All musicians are welcome
to perform in a friendly atmosphere, beginning at 8:30 p.m. The Seedy Seeds’
Margaret Darling guest hosts this week.

It's Only A Day Away

Tomorrow, Northside Tavern hosts a fundraiser for End
Slavery Cincinnati. Help raise awareness
about human trafficking in the country and right here in Cincinnati from 5-10 p.m. There
will be live music from The Flavor Junkies and Wild Mountain Berries, door
prizes and more, for $5 at the door.

This American Life presented a live cinema event last
Thursday that featured its standard true storytelling format, but with ample
visual elements. In addition to anecdotes from David Sedaris, Tig Notaro and
others, there were also dance performances, a hilarious short film from Mike
Birbiglia and an interactive performance by OK GO. The theater in Newport where
I watched the show was far too empty — I found the show more entertaining than
any movie in theaters right now! Those who missed out have another chance to
check out the program in theaters Tuesday. Sure, it will be a recording of the
live show, but the charm and excitement of the live format will surely shine
through. Without spoiling anything, the stories they were able to assemble were
killer: laugh-out-loud, misty-eyed, thought-provoking TAL goodness.

Be sure to download this free app
before you go — the TAL crew pulled some strings to allow audiences to use
their phones at one point in the performance. Go here to find nearby theaters
screening the show tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Can I gush any more? No. It’s worth
the $20 ticket. Please go.

Ricky, Julian and Bubbles bring the trailer park to town for
a night tomorrow! For those unfamiliar, Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian
mockumentary-style comedy series and movies that has developed a
cult following over the past decade. It’s white trash hilarity at its finest.
If last year’s live show was any indication, Tuesday’s “Community Service Variety
Show” is sure to bring the LOLs. Buy tickets here.

Four Entertainment Group (4EG) is the driving force behind nine of the most popular bars and restaurants in the area. While it would be difficult to drink at each location in one night (and possibly damaging to the liver), 4EG is bringing all of their venues to Fountain Square tonight. Try specialty cocktails, beers, wine and signature dishes from aliveOne, Keystone Hyde Park, Keystone Covington, The Lackman, The Stand, Mount Adams Pavilion, The Righteous Room, The Sandbar and Tap & Go as you get down to music from DJ Matt Joy and Bad Veins. Head down to the square from 5-10 p.m. and if you're on Foursquare, be sure to check in — the mayor of these venues will receive a prize.

Thanks to The Requiem Project, the historic Emery Theatre is back in action and hosting concerts, productions and other events. Saturday, the Emery hosts the world premiere of Cincinnati playwright Catie O’Keefe's Welcome Home: The Waddie Welcome Story. The one-night-only production follows a Savannah, Ga. man with cerebral palsy whose determination to live independently with the support of his community inspired a popular book. This show marks the first theatrical show in the space in several years. Catch it at 2 or 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

On second Saturdays, Northside is the place to be. Celebrate the eclectic neighborhood and support local businesses by visiting some of the dozens of participating galleries, shops, restaurants and bars. Visitors will enjoy extended hours, drink and food specials, sales and unique promotions at places like Nvision, Mayday, Take the Cake, C&D, Tantrum, Skincraft and many more. Find a full list of participating businesses here.

Still not sure how to treat your mom on Mother's Day? Our dining guru Anne Mitchell has some tasty advice here. Besides the aforementioned Appalachian Festival, there are plenty of options for yo momma this weekend. The International Butterfly Show at Krohn Conservatory is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and moms are welcome free of charge Sunday. Rabbit Hash is a magical little place, and if your mom loves peaceful river views, quirky antiques, live music and country culture, it's the place to take her Sunday! Austin Jazz-twang group The Love Leighs perform at Rabbit Hash's General Store from 6-8 p.m. Maybe mama's a sports fan? Take her to see The Reds take on The Nationals Sunday at GABP. Get tickets here.

Check out Stage Door for this weekend's theater offerings, our music blog for a live show lineup and our To Do page for more events, art shows, performances and more this weekend.

I'll admit I'm obsessed with This American Life. I listen to archived shows like most people listen to Rhapsody. I've seen every episode of Showtime's TV version. I have a bit of a crush on Ira Glass. For anyone else who's laughed and cried over a story or reached a destination only to sit in the parked car until the broadcast was over, get excited: This American Life is being broadcast live tonight! Ira and Co. will take over New York City's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts tonight for a production of TAL which will be broadcast live in hundreds of theaters across North America. The live event will feature writers David Rakoff and David Sedaris, comedian Tig Notaro, Snap Judgement's Glynn Washington and Ira himself. Taking full advantage of the live, visual format, the show will also feature music by OK Go, a short film by longtime TAL contributor and comedian Mike Birbiglia, a dance performance by Monica Bill Barnes & Company and much more to be seen. Participating cinemas include AMC Newport, Western Hills 14 and Florence 14. Go here to find a nearby theater and get your tickets to tonight's 8 p.m. show. Some theaters will present a recording of the show May 15. Get pumped by listening to 2009's live show here. (I am right now.)

Dayton's Ruckus Roboticus is currently featured on MTVu.com as one of this week's "Best Freshman Videos." The funky Hip Hop bot's "Take Me To The Disco" Video, featuring local actors, is vying for a spot in MTVu's permanent rotation. To celebrate the vid's lead in votes, the crew invites everyone to happy hour at the Moerlein Lager House. Enjoy cheap drinks and a vote-a-thon — bring your smartphones and other space devices beginning at 5:30 p.m. Voting for the video continues through Friday.

Visionaries and Voices opens its new exhibition Autocomplete: A Collaborative Coloring Book Exhibit tonight. V+V artists created black-and-white images which other area and national artists "colored in" using a variety of mediums. The project provided the opportunity for artists with disabilities to collaborate with other creatives they might typically not get the chance to work with. The result is more than 80 works from 160+ artists. Get your first look tonight at V+V's Northside gallery from 5-8 p.m.

Support the Junior League of Cincinnati while checking out a sweet showcase tonight at Scene Ultra Lounge. JLC's "I Want Candy" fashion show will feature items from Knickers XY and Fetish Boutique, hairstyles by High Five Salon and Bobbi Brown cosmetics from Saks Fifth Avenue. Ten bucks gets you in the door; the show begins at 9 p.m.

Art's Bizzarre takes over Mainstrasse's Leapin Lizard Gallery every second Thursday, for a night of music and art by local performers and crafters. Come watch live model drawing and participate in the creative process. At tonight's union-themed event, models will portray icons Rosie the Riveter and The Ironworker. Find more info here.

Check out our To Do page for art exhibits, theater shows and other events happening tonight and follow our music blog for nightly club shows and concerts.

In addition to Cinco de Mayo and Derby Day, the next couple days bring a ton of events and activities. Saddle up, grab some tequila and get out there this weekend!

Essex
Studios blossom this weekend for the galleries’ spring Art Walk, BLOOM.
The space has been transformed with a thousand origami flowers, yarn gardens by
the Cincinnati BombShells and color-coded pathways. As always, more than 100
artists’ work will be on view as guests eat and drink their way through the
studios. The art walk runs 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Saturday
is Clay Alliance’s annual pottery fair at DeSales Corner. Peruse decorative and
functional pottery pieces, meet local artists and get supplies to work with
clay on your self. Hourly raffles and live music round out the day. The 12th
annual fair takes place 11 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine.

The first Saturday of May happens to be Cinco De Mayo this
year, but it’s also Free Comic Book Day: once a year, comic/specialty book
shops across North America offer free publications to all guests. Find a nearby
participating store here. Many store offer additional in-store events and
promotions; Up Up & Away in Cheviot welcomes The Walking Dead co-creator and original artist Tony Moore.

Crafty Supermarket
is back! Making its home at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, the spring show
brings more than 50 indie, subversive crafters from across the city and country
to sell their funky, functional handmade goods. Just in time for Mother’s Day,
shoppers will find unique apparel and accessories, home goods, artwork and more
goodies. Fuel your shopping with delicious food and coffee from local vendors
while a PROJECTMILL DJ keeps you groovin’. Show up early to nab a coveted swag
bag — every year, shoppers line up around the corner of Clifton Avenue in hopes
of being one of the first 100 who get a bag. The market is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
and admission is free.

Cinco
de Mayo is more popular in the U.S. than Mexico, but since when do we let
historical inaccuracies stand in the way of a good drinking holiday? Nearly
every bar and restaurant participates in some capacity, but we’ve selected a
few to host our annual Cantina Crawl. Here’s our schedule:

Join our roving squad of
senoritas and “Seen on the Scene” photographers as they travel from place to
place with more prizes than you can throw a maraca at.

Prom
is a rite of passage many, but often LGBTQ kids don’t feel comfortable at
school dances because of bullies and expectations about dress and dates. The Gay,
Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Greater Cincinnati provides a
welcoming environment for these individuals at their annual GLSEN Prom Saturday.
Come to the Freedom Center for two events in one: those under 21 are invited to
"dress as you want, bring who you want, and love as you
want.” In a separate area of the center the over 21 crowd, who maybe didn’t
get to experience a prom of their own, can enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing for
$65. Those wanting to attend post-dinner can come after 9 p.m. for a
discounted price. As always, kids are welcome free of charge with early
registration. All proceeds support the local GLSEN chapter.

Check out Stage Door for this weekend's theater offerings, our music blog for a live show lineup and our To Do page for more events, art shows, performances and more this weekend.

And
don’t forget to check out the "supermoon"
Saturday — the biggest full moon of the year will peak around 11:30 p.m.
tomorrow.

Last
night’s Reds opener against the Cubs was postponed due to that nasty storm, so Bronson Arroyo and Chicago's
Jeff Samardzija will face off tonight at 7:10 p.m. A makeup game for
last night has not been announced yet.

If
you’re downtown for the game or just hanging out, stop by the Moerlein Lager
House at The Banks for their first seasonal Keg tapping. Councilman P.G.
Sittenfeld will tap the Christian Moerlein Dubél Double IPA, available only at
the Lager House, at 6 p.m.

Even
if you’re far from a modern dance buff, you’re probably familiar with
contemporary dance company Pilobolus.Besides touring across more than 64 countries,
Pilobus performed a tribute to the nominated movies at the 2007 Oscars,
collaborated with OK GO for the group’s “All Is Not Lost” music video
and were featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2008.

Pretty
cool, right? Pilobolus is in town tonight and Thursday, performing at the
Aronoff Center as part of Contemporary Dance Theater’s Guest Artist Series. Go
here
for tickets.

Joseph-Beth
hosts staff favorite author Veronica Roth and their Rookwood location tonight.
The New York Times bestselling author will discuss and sign the second book in
her popular Divergent series tonight
from 7-8:30 p.m. Insurgent is “another intoxicating thrill
ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful
insights about human nature.”

May is Bike Month so be sure
to check our our new issue, out today, for tips on traversing city streets,
options for trail lovers and a lots of pedal-rific events all month long.

Check out our To Do page for
more arts and theater happenings and follow our music blog for nightly club
shows and concerts.

Thanks to the Contemporary Arts Center's current music video exhibition, Spectacle, a number of talented musicians, artists and directors have flocked to Cincinnati during the past two months to perform and discuss the power of music videos in our culture. Tonight, director Vincent Morisset stops by to screen Inni, his powerful black-and-white film about Icelandic Pop Rock group Sigur Rós. Morisset will then discuss his work with Sigur Rós and Arcade Fire and take questions. The event begins at 6:30 — come early to check out the Spectacle exhibit if you haven't yet. The screening and talk are free for members, $7.50 museum admission for non-members.

It's Final Friday and last year's popular monthly OTR Skate is back! Don your best hot pants and tube socks and roll over to the OTR Recreation Center for a night of old-school fun with a hip twist. Bust a move on the rink to the music of Automagik and You, You're Awesome. Admission is just $5 (skate rental included) and goes to the Rec Center to provide youth programs and scholarships for area kids. Enjoy free Vitamin Water and classic game room attractions like air hockey and foosball. Been a decade or two since you last laced up those skates? Cincinnati Rollergirls will be on hand for some pro tips. The fun begins at 8 p.m.

Northside's Building Value presents its third annual ReUse-apalooza tonight from 7-11 p.m. Learn about how the nonprofit reuses materials and what you can do to promote sustainable building practices. Music will be provided by Messerly and Ewing and there will be a silent auction featuring Building Value projects. Tickets are $20, $50 VIP. After the benefit, head over to Northside Tavern for a free after-party.

If you've checked out our cover story this week, you know about the steampunk movement that's taken flight locally. What started as a literary genre that mixes Victorian history with futuristic fantasy elements a la Jules Verne is know an underground culture with its own music, art, costuming and performance aspects. This weekend marks the first Steampunk Symposium at Tri-County's Atrium Hotel. While weekend passes are sold-out, Saturday one-day tickets will be available at the door for $20. Whether you're a diehard steampunk or just curious about the movement, this quirky event has something for everyone. Saturday's schedule includes various steampunk bands and authors, a midnight masquerade, workshops, fashion shows, a mustache parade, verbal dueling (a battle of wits) and dozens of other activities. Various events run from 10 a.m. until around 2 a.m. Read more about the culture and find a Saturday lineup here.

May is Bike Month and the Main Library downtown kicks off the cycling celebration Saturday with a bike expo. Check out various bicycle exhibits, meet organizers from groups like MoBo Bicycle Coop, Queen City Bike and League of American Bicyclists and meet Bobbi Montgomery, author of Across America by Bicycle. Get all the information you need to become a regular cyclist about town. The expo runs from 2-4 p.m. Go here for more details.

The Cincinnati Opera will perform the highly anticipated Southern-inspired George Gershwin hit Porgy and Bess in June, but you don't have to wait until summer to get in on the excitement. Saturday's Opera Gala, "A Hot Night in Charleston" will transport Duke Energy Convention Center's Grand Ballroom into the Pametto State with soul food, cocktails, music and dancing. After you've had your fill of Southern-style eats, stick around for the after-party, "Late Night in Charleston." Being a benefit for the Opera, tickets for the Gala are pretty steep ($250, $175 for first-timers); If you're on a budget, consider coming for the after-party, which runs from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. — tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will begin being serves at 6:30 p.m.

Add a little cuteness to your weekend with the Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic open house Sunday. The facility has been yarn bombed by the Cincinnati BombShells to welcome new cats ready for adoption. If you're looking for a new cuddle buddy, consider adopting one of OAR's rescue kitties at the event. The free open house runs 1-4 p.m. Go here for more details, directions and more info on donations and volunteer opportunities.

Tonight marks O'Bryonville's first Third Thursday Benefit Wine Walk of the year. Support the neighborhood's independent businesses like Hemptations, Phyllis Weston Gallery, Ten Thousand Villages, The Bonbonerie, indigenous and many more as you hop from spot to spot, enjoying complimentary wine and bites at each participating venue. This month's walk benefits Pets in Need (a UCAN affiliate) and Cincinnati Pet Food Pantry. The event runs from 5-8 p.m. tonight.

Enjoy a romantic night in Paris...without needing a passport. Art Design Consultants presents en evening with their Design Star, Grace Jones of Dwellings on Madison. Jones will transform the ADC loft space (310 Culvert St., Downtown) into a French apartment. Stop by at 6 for cocktails and stick around for the 7 p.m. unveiling of Jones' designs. Holly Golightly attire is encouraged! RSVP here.

Comedian Jim Norton kicks off his three-night gig at Funny Bone on the Levee tonight. Specializing in dark comedy and self-deprecation, the comic has also acted in television and film and has written two humorous nonfiction books. Many will recognize Norton from the Opie & Anthony radio show, Louie, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and several small, odd film roles (two words: Furry Vengeance). Norton goes on tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22.

Cincinnati Zoo's Tunes and Blooms
series continues tonight with Shiny and the Spoon and The Tillers. The free concert features local favorite musicians performing in the beautiful
setting of the zoo's gardens. The concert runs 6-8:30 p.m.; admission to
the zoo is free after 5 p.m. (parking is $8). Tunes and Blooms
continues every Thursday this month.

Jungle Jim's hosts a mystery mix cigar tasting tonight from 5-8 p.m. The tasting will be held at the Oscar Event Center's Monorail Terrace. Guests can enjoy three different cigars with $15 admission. There will be a cash bar, raffle and plenty of cigars and accessories for sale. Each Thursday, Jungle Jim's presents a different variety of cigars to try. No word yet on whether "mystery mix" is an early 4-20 reference.

Follow our music blog for nightly shows and check our To Do page for more art exhibits, theater productions and events.